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The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a significant victory to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration agenda, ruling Thursday that it can terminate temporary protected status for migrants from Haiti and Syria — potentially exposing hundreds of thousands of people to deportation.

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority overturned lower court orders, clearing the way for the Department of Homeland Security to swiftly end TPS protections for nationals from those countries. The program currently shields about 1.3 million people from 17 nations facing violence or natural disasters.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, argued that federal law does not allow courts to second-guess the process used by immigration authorities to revoke these protections. The opinion also dismissed claims that Trump’s past derogatory comments about Haitians demonstrated unlawful prejudice, calling the statements “insufficient” to prove racial motivation.

This ruling marks another major win for President Trump’s hardline immigration policies, following a previous decision this week that revived restrictions on asylum seekers. While the Court has occasionally checked some of the administration’s more aggressive moves, it has largely deferred to executive authority in immigration matters, giving the White House broad leeway to reshape who can remain in the United States.

For the hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians who have relied on TPS to rebuild their lives after fleeing crisis, this decision brings sudden uncertainty and fear. Critics argue it prioritizes enforcement over humanitarian concerns, especially given ongoing instability in both countries. Supporters see it as a necessary step to restore order and prevent abuse of temporary protections.

As the Trump administration continues its push to tighten immigration rules, this case highlights the growing power of the executive branch in deciding the fate of vulnerable populations — and the limited role courts are willing to play in checking that authority.

The decision could have ripple effects across other TPS designations, potentially reshaping America’s approach to protecting those fleeing danger abroad.